Al. Ringling Theatre
136 Fourth Avenue,
Baraboo,
WI
53913
136 Fourth Avenue,
Baraboo,
WI
53913
18 people
favorited this theater
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Two exterior night photos taken in September 2024 have been added, with more linked.
Wisconsin Historical Society Acquires Al. Ringling Theatre
Historic Baraboo theatre will become an extension of the Society’s Circus World operations and continue to serve as a home for the local and regional arts
Madison, WI-The Wisconsin Historical Society will acquire the Al. Ringling Theatre in Baraboo, Wis., after working with the Al. Ringling Theatre Friends, Inc., to secure $3.07 million from community donors to ensure the long-term future of the beloved regional theatre. The 700-seat theatre was built in 1915 by Al Ringling, co-founder with his brothers of the world-renowned Ringling Brothers Circus, and designed in the opulent style of grand French opera houses. Ringling built the theatre for the Baraboo community in a show of appreciation for the town that the Ringling Brothers called home and the original site of the Ringling Bros. Circus winter quarters. Through the years, the theatre has hosted national touring companies, vaudeville, motion pictures and more, bringing performing arts and culture to Baraboo and the greater South-Central Wisconsin region.
“The Al. Ringling Theatre is one of the first examples of opulent design applied to the moving picture theatre in this country and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in May 1976,” said Christian Overland, the Ruth & Hartley Barker Director and CEO of the Wisconsin Historical Society. “It is an architectural masterpiece that puts Wisconsin within the broader context of the history of the United States. Acquiring the Al. to operate with the rest of the Society’s historic sites is a natural tie to our mission of connecting people to history by sharing stories and serving communities throughout our great state. We are grateful for the incredible support from the people of Baraboo-a place that is rich with history and a community where the Society has strong roots already with Circus World.”
Discussions for a change in ownership began in July 2022. The Society completed a feasibility study in February 2023 and outlined a potential model in which the theatre would become an extension of Circus World operations, which is one of 12 historic sites in the Society’s portfolio. The plan required $3.07 million in private support for facility improvements, transition costs and an operating endowment. That fundraising goal was met earlier this month and the endowment funds will be held by the Community Foundation of South Central Wisconsin.
“We are overwhelmed by the generosity of the Baraboo community members who stepped up to ensure the legacy of Al Ringling’s gift to this town can live for generations to come,” said Charlene Flygt, president of Al. Ringling Theatre Friends, Inc.
The Society’s Board of Curator’s voted to approve the theater acquisition on March 15, 2024. Programming is expected to ramp up slowly to ensure a sustainable transition and a technical director will be hired to oversee onsite operations.
Tom McEvilly, the new CEO at the Al. Ringling Theatre, wants to involve the Baraboo community with new programs and shows. “These theaters don’t exist anymore, they’re made into parking lots, they’re made into multiplexes or they’re like antique malls,” said McEvilly. “I’m really glad that this community was wise enough and dedicated enough and passionate enough to save it.” He plans to introduce youth theater classes including orientation and acting courses taught by theater professionals, and students will perform two shows a year. McEvilly says he plans to teach a couple of classes as well.
“You need to create that beginning base where they appreciate what we have, and they want to have the same passion to keep this place alive,” said McEvilly. “In our theater here, we have the high school and our parochial schools and our dance studios from the area that come and perform here. And when they come and have that opportunity here, they carry that love for this place throughout their entire lives.”
McEvilly looks forward to bringing many shows to the theater in the coming year, including live music performances, dance companies and comedic events that all generations can enjoy. Al. Ringling Theater Board President Aural Umhoefer said McEvilly’s theater experience will help secure the future of the historic playhouse. “He’s very experienced, so he’s very good to work with, he knows how to manage all aspects of a theater, which will benefit the Al. in the future.”
Throughout October, the theater will host a variety of live events, with Pink Droyd, a Pink Floyd cover band performing Saturday, and Charlie Berenes from Manitowoc Minute on Oct. 26. At the end of October and beginning of November, a theater guild that has performed in the theater for almost 60 years will be perform the musical “Pippin.” The theater also will host comedic acts such as VODville, a group of Hollywood actors to recreate original slapstick comedy similar to the Three Stooges and Charlie Chaplin. The theater also will present an original version of “Saturday Night Live” with local actors in the comedic sketches.
McEvilly said theater has directed theater productions in Madison, Chicago and Germany, and written three musicals. Until recently he was a theater and communications professor at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County. He also served as the youth theater director at Portage Center for the Arts from 2015 to 2017 and holds six degrees from UW-Madison, including a doctorate in education administration with a focus in fine arts administration and fundraising. He also worked as a teacher of theater with gifted and special needs students.
http://host.madison.com/entertainment/arts_and_theatre/theatre/al-ringling-theatre-makes-dramatic-return/article_41823cf7-ba7a-5fa0-9ee1-0caee505b7ca.html
The theatre will close June 15, 2015 for restoration and reopen in February 2016.
Just for accuracy’s sake, officially the theatre’s name has a period after the name ‘Al’.
Incredible detail here. Classic.
(January 16, 1953) Two Baraboo Theaters Sold to New Milwaukee Company
The Al Ringling theater, “America’s Prettiest Playhouse” since 1915, has been sold with its sister theater, the Juliar, to a new Milwaukee corporation, Baraboo Theaters, Inc., by Henry E. Ringllng.
Purchase price for the theaters was announced at more than $150,000. The Al Ringling theater, when it was completed in 1915, cost $100,000.
The corporation which bought the theaters also operates theaters in Richland Center, Boscobel, Elroy, and Black River Falls. It is headed by Jacob Eskin, president of the Eskin Theater Management Co., Milwaukee.
The Al Ringling theater was built by Albert Ringling, an owner of the Ringling Brothers circus. It seats 834, and at the time it was built was one of the largest and finest theaters in a city of its size in the country.
The Juliar, a much smaller theater, was completed in 1938 by Henry E. Ringling, in memory of Mrs. Selome Juliar Ringling, mother of the Ringling brothers.
The Al Ringling theatre originally was built for legitimate theatre, or as an “opera house.” It was converted to a movie theater later. It is still used for area theatrical performances.
Famous actors who have visited the theater during the time it was an opera house include Lionel Barrymore and Charlotte Greenwood.
Henry E. Ringling, Wisconsin Republican national committeeman, was in Washington for the inauguration Thursday and could not be reached for comment.
If ever there was a theatre entrance, this is it with the famous name high above…..Al Ringling! A must-see, in person, someday!
Lost Memory: Your “another angle” photo is spectacular! Thanks for sharing…again!
What a beautiful theatre! I am glad it is being maintained so well.
Lost Memory: GREAT PHOTO!
Lost Memory: What a wonderful evening photo of a wonderful theatre with a wonderful name…Ringling. BTW, the Ringling home and grounds in Sarasota FL are a must-see!
There is a gorgeous new full color souvenir book for the theatre available. Contact information for the theatre is at www.alringling.com
Some papers concerning the Al. Ringling Theatre recently uncovered include a statement of cost from C.W. and Geo. L. Rapp to Al. Ringling. The theatre cost $100,422.79 including all of the extras (like the organ) and the architects' traveling expenses.
Dear “Lost Memory”
Are you related to the Rapps? Do you have a list of early Rapp and Rapp theatres? I would like to hear from you.
Thanks Paul Wolter
Brian: Absolutely beautiful!
Russell Phillips Photo:
Al Ringling Auditorium Panorama
WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ, Opus 29, a 2 manual/6 rank, was shipped to the Fremont Theatre in Oakland, California on December 31, 1913. It was reposessed by the WurliTizer company, rebuilt as Opus 70 and shipped to the Al. Ringling Theatre around 1915.
In about 1928 the Ringling Theatre bought a 3 manual/9 rank, Mighty Golden-voiced Barton Organ. This made sense because Dan Barton had toured in 1909, with the Ringling Brothers Circus. In fact, the organ console style used in this theatre, and many other installations, is referred to as the “circus wagon,” because of its lavish use of carvings and the red and gold coloring. Another good reason was that Barton’s were made in Oshkosh, Wisconsin only 70 miles away and WurliTizer’s were made in North Tonawanda, New York about 550 miles away.
By the late 1960’s the Barton had gradually fallen into desrepair so that it was barely usable. In the early 1970’s, a group of dedicated volunteers began restoring the instrument to its original glory. They emptied dust from the pipes, patched and replaced the miles and miles of wiring, and cleaned off the grime from 30 years of coal heat. The Barton is now in excellent playing condition.
The WurliTizer, minus the percussion and sound effects went to a church in Baraboo where it was used until around 1970. I don’t know what happened to the WurliTizer after that.
I live about 20 miles from Baraboo, and I visit the Ringling fairly often. The bulk of its programming today is first-run movies, and they also do stage shows and musical presentations as well. On occasion, they also do free screenings of older films, with a collection being taken up for local food pantries & charities. Early in November, the Baraboo Theatre Guild will be performing Lerner & Loewe’s CAMELOT on the Ringling stage; I have my ticket already and it will be GREAT!
There is a 3/9 Barton organ that was installed here in 1928. The organ was completely repaired and restored in the 1970s and remains in great playing condition. The organ is not used very much today, other than for a demonstration during daily theatre tours. A couple of years ago (4/1/04) the theatre did a presentation of some Charlie Chaplin silents with Dennis James accompanying at the organ. I can confidently say that was the most magical movie experience I have ever had.
Although I have been to the Ringling MANY times, every time I enter the auditorium today (usually at Aisle 1), I continue to be held in awe of the place, as though I were seeing it for the first time. It’s that powerful. Although visibly in need of an interior restoration (exterior work was completed a few years ago), that does not distract from the spectacle that is the Al Ringling Theatre. The theatre has remained in constant use since opening night in November 1915, and the place has not been significantly altered since. The only changes that come to mind over the years are modern motion picture and sound/lighting equipment, the marquee (installed decades ago, but is not original to the theatre), and the installation in 1928 of the present Barton organ, which replaced the original 1915 Wurlitzer. Even the popcorn machine in the Lobby concession stand is 1940s vintage and still in use—and they still use real butter on their popcorn!
Anyone planning a vacation to the Wisconsin Dells area MUST make a stop at the Ringling a part of their itinerary.
ken mc: Wonderful photos of a beautifully built theatre with the Ringling name. I’ve tour the Ringling home in Sarasota FL and it is quite the estate on Tampa Bay.
Same theater, 35 years later:
http://tinyurl.com/n5bhb
Here is a photo from 1915:
http://tinyurl.com/s486l
The Juliar Theatre was built about 1938 by Henry Ringling, Al. Ringling’s nephew, and the owner of the Al. Ringling Theatre at that time. The name comes from the maiden name of the Ringling Brothers mother, Salome Juliar Ringling. As a trivia note, their were two other Juliar sisters, one whom married a Gollmar and had several boys (whom also went on to create a circus) and one whom married a Moeller and had two boys which made circus wagons with their father. The Juliar Theatre was a sparsely decorated Art Deco box which provided programming alternatives to the Al. Ringling Theatre. The Juliar Theatre was heavily used when only a few years after it opened the massive Badger Ordnance Works opened just south of Baraboo eventually employing 13,000 people. I’m not sure when the theatre went out of use but as long as I can remember (back to the 70’s) it was never open, but the name always remained on the ouside of the building. (the sign is now owned by Juliar family members) It was indeed demolished to make way for the West Square Building in 1994. I can provide a picture if someone wants to include a listing here on Cinema Treasures. Just contact me.
Thanks, Paul Wolter
I have nothing to add to the kind entries by the other ‘authorities’ here. Of course, one could message the Ringling management directly through their web site, and no doubt they would quickly tell you what you need to know. I live over 100 miles away, so have no direct knowledge.